Eco Green Tips

photo credit: OakleyOriginals

This year Earth Hour falls on March 28 at 8:30 pm and it basically requires all participants (as many people as possible, so go ahead and let al your friends and family know about it) to turn off all their lights and other electrical devices for one hour between 8:30 and 9:30 pm. Nothing too troublesome and imagine all the possibilities (e.g. a romantic candlelit dinner with your honey…)

Last years Earth Hour was a test and a successful one at that! Although some people tried to claim it nothing but a publicity stunt, the results were mind boggling. If you’re not sure if your own input will make any difference, consider this:

• An estimated 36 to 50 million people took part in the Earth Hour last year
• Bangkok saved an astounding 42.6 tons of CO2
• Toronto minimized its energy usage by 8.7%
• Dubai managed to save 2.4% of the energy usage during this hour
• Christchurch, New Zealand, reached a boasting 13% of energy saved, and the country as whole saved 335 megawatts
• Australians were not much worse: Melbourne saved 10.1% and Sydney saved 8.4% of energy

So let’s all do our part and turn off the lights for just one hour that day. And perhaps we may actually discover the joy of talking again….

photo credit: mohán

The Indian mountains of Western Ghats where three states, namely Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka meet are a home to the largest and possibly best developing population of Asian elephants. However, this already fragile eco-system is even further threatened by the ever-rising economical and developmental needs of humans.

According to scientists, there are about 2000 elephants surviving in Peninsular India in various habitats, the largest of which numbers about 1000 animals and is found in the 4500sq km area boarding the three Indian states. Event thought the best fodder is in Tamil Nadu, the elephants need to migrate to Kerala and Karnataka when the food and water become scarce in Tamil Nadu every summer. And here lies the problem…

The clearing of land and development made it impossible for the direct migrations of elephants, which are now forced to move through a narrow corridor extending from Mulehole in Karnataka to Muthanga in Kerala, which is only about 2.5 km wide. However, a major interstate highway connecting Bangladore and Calicut passes through that corridor and is used daily by hundreds of vehicles posing a significant threat to the safety of migrating elephants.

Moreover, the Indian government has recently decided to relocate four governmental check-posts to the corridor itself. The decision involves erecting all kinds of infrastructure (e.g. offices, toilets and dormitories for drivers, building and housing complexes, gas station etc), which will ultimately make it impossible for any elephant migrations through the forest. However, there is an alternative to placing the check-post in the forest itself and the Ecological Internet is currently protesting erecting the said infrastructure right in the middle of the last available migration route for the Asian elephants.

If you’re interested in helping, go to http://www.ecoearth.info/shared/alerts/

photo credit: 23am.com
The recent Australian study of underwater marine life in Antarctica has revealed that is a home to over 7,500 species of sea creatures. This discovery led to WWF-Australia’s urging for an expansion of marine protected areas in the Antarctic region.

The study—2009 Census of Marine Life— also discovered that 235 animals were found in both Arctic and Antarctic oceans, which indicates that “the polar oceans are effective safe havens for species that arrive by chance.”—said Rob Nicoll, WWF-Australia, Antarctica and Southern Ocean Initiative Manager.

Moreover, the Antarctic current creates a sort of isolation from warmer waters and forces the species to develop defensive mechanisms against glacial temperatures, for instance antifreeze blood of a few types of deep sea fish. Previously thought to be marine deserts, the polar seas are now considered an effective tool of evolution, combining an element of isolation with a wide range of habitat where cold ocean species can thrive.

These isolated habitats around the Arctic and Antarctic oceans are threatened by warming of the climate, which forces the animals to move closer to the poles. Scientists are urging the governments to commit to drastic cuts in CO2 emissions because otherwise future expeditions will “simply create a list of species in our oceans that will perish due to climate change.”—Nicoll says.

Unfortunately, climate change is only one of the many threats to biodiversity in areas such as Antarctic oceans. Others include invasive species, oils spills, pollution form shipping activities and unregulated illegal fishing. These issues are a serious concern for scientists trying to preserve the homes to thousands of species that may soon become extinct.

photo credit: ground.zero

Recent reports state that the coral reefs off the southeast coast of Taiwan have turned black with disease threatening already fragile sea eco-systems as well as Taiwan’s growing tourists industry.

A possible cause for the occurrence could be untreated sewage. Garbage and excrement are dumped into the waters on Green Island, one of the places where the coal turned black.

Studies performed by Taiwan’s scientists have shown that coral is significantly contaminated in waters up to 5 meters (16.4 feet) deep and 300 meters offshore the remote islands. This poses a serious problem not only for the tourism industry (not many will like to see a black coral reef) but also for the environment.

Coral reefs are fragile as well as beautiful structures under the sea created by polyps (tiny animals), which are extremely important as nurseries and refuge for many small fish and other sea creatures. In addition, the reefs protect the coastlines from erosion, supply millions of people with a significant source of food as well as potential resources for medicine.

The reports were sent to the Taiwan government and the scientists are planning to check other offshore areas supporting coral for any problems or signs of disease.

photo credit: vera46 

Oceans have been known for their ability to reduce the effects of global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide, however this ability, scientists say, may well be causing more problems than benefits.

 When CO2 dissolves it makes the sea water more acidic, which would not be all too bad if this acidity was not rising in an alarming speed, which threatens the sea life in general, but particularly shellfish and coral reefs.

In January 2009 an international panel organized by the United Nations consisting of 155 scientists from 26 countries released a statement, called the Monaco Declaration, in which the group provided evidence of already decreasing numbers of shellfish and shell weight as well as slower growth of coral skeletons. The statement also claims that the rapidly increasing water acidity disturbs the healthy growth of various shellfish and erodes the coral reefs, which may have dramatic results for the sea life in general.

According to the scientists, oceans absorb about 25% of carbon dioxide emissions, which when dissipated in salt water produces carbonic acid. The acidity of the seas has increased by 30% since the 17^th century, the group said, and it may “render most regions chemically inhospitable to coral reefs by 2050.”

The panel also urged to drastically reduce carbon emissions as it is the only way to stop the destructive effects of ocean water acidity.